The app had also been suspended from Google Play several times prior to the change.

Mr Wittig said the practice felt like "selective enforcement" against LGBT-focused apps.

He pointed out that apps such as Instagram, Tumblr and Twitter had not been removed from the app store for hosting much more sexually suggestive content.

'Algorithmic flagging'

On Wednesday, a group of eight LGBT video-makers said they were suing YouTube and parent company Google, alleging discrimination against LGBT people and content.

The group claimed Google's algorithms routinely marked videos using words such as "gay" or "lesbian" as unsuitable for advertising.

YouTube said sexual orientation and gender identity played no role in deciding whether videos could earn ad revenue or appear in search results.

But Mr Wittig said he had experienced a similar problem with Hornet's editorial content, which is hosted in its app and on its website.

He said Hornet had been excluded from advertising revenue for publishing LGBT-focused content, and he suggested that using keywords like "gay" and "homosexual" in articles about history, health and lifestyle "triggered algorithmic flagging".